Hearing Impairment

David Winnick: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, 
	(1)  what arrangements the House of Commons Commission plans to make for facilities in committee rooms for hon. Members and visitors who are hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what arrangements the House of Commons Commission plans to make in rooms used for select committees for the hard of hearing when the meeting goes into private session; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what arrangements the House of Commons Commission plans to make in rooms used regularly by political parties for those hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement.

John Thurso: There are induction loop facilities in all committee rooms in the Palace and in all committee and conference rooms on the first floor of Portcullis House. Portable equipment is available for the smaller meeting rooms in both buildings. Induction loop facilities are also provided in the Public Gallery of the House of Commons Chamber and in Westminster Hall Chamber.
	When a select committee meets in public the induction loop facility is operational. When the meeting goes into private session, it is normal for the loop to be switched to private mode which prevents it transmitting a signal and thus eliminates the risk of the committee's private deliberations being intercepted outside the room. It is possible to leave the loop switched on during a private session; the decision to do so is for the committee chair.
	Both the Parliamentary Labour Party and the 1922 Committee regularly hold meetings in Committee Room 14. The loop facilities in this room have been adapted to allow both fixed and roving microphone output to be broadcast through the loop. The decision to use this facility is for the chair of the meeting.
	The House is committed to facilitating access and supporting people with disabilities in participating in House activities and continues to make improvements including to physical access, the provision of services and the educating of those providing those services. One of the four priority areas of the House's Diversity and Inclusion Scheme, launched in March 2012, is ‘Ensuring access and inclusion’, which covers the need to improve accessibility for disabled stakeholders including Members, staff and visitors to the parliamentary estate. The provision of facilities for those who are hard of hearing will be kept under review as part of this scheme.
	If the hon. Member has further questions on this matter, the Director of Accommodation and Logistics Services would be happy to discuss them with him.

Floods

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department plans to compensate or provide relief to those affected by recent flooding in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England and Wales.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 6 September 2012
	With regard to the flooding across England in June and July, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), activated the Bellwin scheme of emergency financial assistance to help local authorities with their immediate costs associated with protecting life and property in their areas. I am advised that Barnsley did not apply for these schemes and the deadline for registration has now passed.
	Going forward the Government stands ready to consider future requests for assistance, including financial, that we receive, and we will consider all requests sympathetically.
	The Welsh Government is responsible for flood risk policy in Wales.

Hercules Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what comparative assessment he has made of the (a) size of radar signature, (b) ability to penetrate hostile airspace at low-level and (c) ability to land on rough short airstrips of the A400M and C-130J aircraft.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Worcestershire (Peter Luff), on 19 June 2012, Official Report, column 935W. This highlighted the ongoing A400M Atlas multinational trial programme which will cover the ability of the aircraft to use rough landing strips. There is also a plan to assess the radar cross-section of the A400M Atlas; the radar cross-sections of the C-130J and K are already known. Once this study is complete, a comparative assessment of the A400M Atlas and both C-130 Hercules variants could be made. The ability of A400M Atlas to fly at low-level is also being evaluated by Airbus. This information, when combined with the radar cross-section data, will allow an assessment to be made of the aircraft's ability to penetrate hostile airspace at low-level.
	Once these trials are completed by Airbus and the results evaluated, the outcome will be presented to A400M Atlas partner nations. They will collectively make an assessment of this information and whether the aircraft's performance meets the agreed requirement. No conclusions can yet be drawn in comparative terms of the performances of the A400M Atlas and C-130J Hercules.

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average processing time was for enquiries received by (a) telephone, (b) email and (c) post at the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in each of the last 24 months for which figures are available.

Mark Francois: Where available data held on the average processing time for inquiries received by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) is shown in the table.
	It is not possible to provide the average processing time for letters and e-mails received by either the Joint Personnel Administration Centre (JPAC) or other functional areas within SPVA as the data for these is not held in this format.
	The latter includes addressing claims under the War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, many of which require detailed investigation.
	
		
			   Veterans Helpline JPAC 
			  Month Tel (Mins) Letters (Working days) E-mails (Working days) Tel (Mins) 
			 2010 September 3.03 3.6 1.7 4.33 
			  October 3.02 1.2 1.2 4.08 
			  November 3.03 2.6 1.6 3.51 
			  December 3.05 1.7 1.5 3.45 
			       
			 2011 January 3.04 2.9 1.4 3.54 
			  February 3.05 1.7 1.2 4.22 
			  March 3.00 1.8 1.5 4.18 
			  April 2.56 1.5 1.2 4.06 
			  May 3.04 2 1.5 4.17 
			  June 3.07 1.8 1.3 4.21 
			  July 3.05 3 1.3 4.20 
			  August 3.15 2.8 1.4 4.09 
			  September 3.10 2.1 1.8 4.07 
			  October 3.16 2.9 1.5 3.57 
			  November 3.16 2.6 1.5 3.46 
		
	
	
		
			  December 3.10 2.7 1.3 3.53 
			       
			 2012 January 3.21 2 1.2 3.51 
			  February 3.34 2.4 1.3 3.58 
			  March 3.26 3.4 1.7 4.08 
			  April 3.46 3.3 2.6 4.08 
			  May 4.40 3.9 2.1 4.07 
			  June 3.39 2.8 2.6 4.04 
			  July 4.02 2.7 1.3 4.02 
			  August 3.48 3.3 2.9 4.03

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department ensures that service personnel and veterans who use the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) are satisfied with the standard of service which they receive from the SPVA.

Mark Francois: The Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) conducts an annual customer satisfaction survey with service personnel, veterans and its corporate customers.
	Service personnel have been surveyed via the Joint Personnel Administration system since it was rolled out in 2007. The 2011 survey recorded an 85% overall satisfaction with SPVA services.
	In January each year, a random selection of some 13,000 veterans are invited to either complete a hard copy of the Veterans Survey or online via the Veterans UK website. The 2011 Veterans Survey recorded a 92% overall satisfaction with SPVA services.
	On an annual basis, a senior representative of SPVA's 12 corporate customers are invited to be interviewed. The 2011 survey recorded a 75% overall satisfaction with services provided by SPVA.
	The SPVA overall target for achievement of customer satisfaction is 80% with no less than 70% satisfaction in each of the three separate customer segments. The SPVA's combined assessment for 2011 was 84.22%.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for the development of unmanned aerial vehicle technology at Parc Aberporth; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: There are currently no plans for the Parc Aberporth facility to be used in the further development of Unmanned Air Systems, following the completion of the flight trials of all Watchkeeper production aircraft in 2015.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which ships will be upgraded under the Combat Management System Joint Support Solution; what systems will be installed on each ship; and when each such installation will (a) begin and (b) be completed;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of implementing the Combat Management System Joint Support Solution (a) in total and (b) for each vessel to be upgraded under that contract.

Philip Dunne: The Combat Management System Joint Support Solution is a contract between the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems Integrated Systems Technology Ltd, awarded in December 2010, which provides support for on board Combat Systems by effectively managing spares and obsolescence.
	The contract value is up to £49 million over its six year duration and covers a total of 23 ships (13 Type 23 frigates, six Type 45 destroyers, HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark, HMS Albion and RFA Argus).
	The contract does not separately identify the cost of supporting each individual ship.

Corporation Tax

Andrew Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction in the rate of corporation tax on competitiveness.

David Gauke: The Government aims to create the most competitive tax regime in the G20. The main rate of corporate tax has been reduced from 28% in 2010 to 24% in April this year, and will then fall to 23% in April 2013 and 22% in April 2014, when the UK will have the lowest corporation tax rate in the G7 and the fourth lowest in the G20.
	Reforms to the corporate tax regime have made the UK more competitive, stemming the flow of businesses leaving and encouraging companies to come back, or to move here for the first time.

Income Tax

Andrew Percy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the smallest geographical area for which information is available will no longer pay income tax as a result of changes to the income tax threshold announced since May 2010.

David Gauke: The June 2010 Budget announced a £1,000 cash increase in the income tax personal allowance for under 65s to £7,475 in 2011-12 (£820 above RPI indexation), with real terms gains focused on basic rate taxpayers through a £1,400 cash reduction in the higher rate threshold in income tax.
	The 2011 Budget announced a £630 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £8,105 in 2012-13 (£240 above RPI indexation), with an equivalent reduction in the basic rate limit to leave the higher rate threshold unchanged.
	The 2012 Budget announced a £1,100 cash increase in the personal allowance for under 65s to £9,205 in 2013-14, (£850 above expected RPI indexation), along with a £2,125 reduction of the basic rate limit so that most higher rate taxpayers will get one quarter of the benefit a typical basic rate taxpayer will receive.
	As a result of these measures, the Government estimates that 1.97 million of the lowest income taxpayers will be removed from tax altogether in 2013-14. Information at Government office region is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Government office region Number taken out of income tax (thousand) 
			 North-east 80 
			 North-west and Merseyside 224 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 170 
			 East midlands 152 
			 West midlands 172 
			 East of England 176 
			 London 223 
			 South-east 255 
			 South-west 172 
			 Wales 95 
			 Scotland 162 
			 Northern Ireland 57 
			 Address abroad/unknown 32 
			 All 1,970 
		
	
	These estimates take account only of the measures affecting the under 65s personal allowance. They do not include the impacts of recently announced changes to age-related allowances.
	These estimates are based on the 2009-10 Survey of Personal Incomes, projected to 2013-14 using economic assumptions consistent with the Office for Budget Responsibility's March 2012 economic and fiscal outlook.
	Reliable estimates are not available at lower levels of geography due to greater uncertainties in making projections for small geographical areas and small sample sizes.

LIBOR

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what information he has received from the Financial Services Authority on whether (a) sterling LIBOR and (b) other currency LIBOR rates have been affected by the actions of Barclays;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that suitable measures for redress will be made available to UK businesses mis-sold financial products based on LIBOR if banks are found to be guilty of rate manipulation.

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of the fixing of the LIBOR on the ability of UK banks to (a) remain solvent and (b) operate without payments from the public purse during 2008.

Greg Clark: On 27 June the FSA fined Barclays Bank Plc (Barclays) £59.5 million for misconduct relating to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR) between 2005 and 2008. This is the largest fine ever imposed by the FSA. Barclays was separately fined £230 million by the US regulatory authorities.
	Such misconduct includes attempted manipulation. In some cases those attempts were to lower the final LIBOR rate, and in others they were to increase it. Such attempts may only have moved the overall LIBOR rate by a fraction of a percentage point, if at all. Consequently it is very difficult to establish any sort of net effect from the attempted manipulation.
	The Government believes that this and other recent examples of misconduct in the banking sector are completely unacceptable. This is why the Government is taking action now, including comprehensive reform of the regulatory system.

Mortgages

Caroline Nokes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what provision the Government has put in place for people over 75 seeking to remortgage who may be considered by banks and building societies to be high risk;
	(2)  what steps the Government has taken to ensure high street banks and building societies do not discriminate against people over 75 who wish to remortgage.

Greg Clark: There is no law or FSA regulation stipulating a maximum age for mortgage borrowers. Under the FSA's rules, firms are required to provide a prompt, fair and efficient service to all their customers, regardless of their age.
	Decisions concerning the pricing and availability of mortgages are commercial decisions for individual lenders, and the Government do not seek to intervene in these decisions.

Revenue and Customs: Chadwell Heath

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his approval was sought in respect of the decision to close the HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centre in Chadwell Heath.

David Gauke: I was formally advised by HMRC on 17 July of the proposed merger of the Chadwell Heath and Romford Enquiry Centres and noted the position.
	HMRC also advised my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) and the hon. Member for Ilford South (Mike Gapes) about this change. Civil service trade unions were also notified of this proposal and noted the position.

UK Trade and Investment

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Barnett consequentials have been paid to Scotland in respect of resources allocated to UK Trade and Investment since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

Danny Alexander: UK Trade and Investment is a UK-wide body which works for businesses across the UK, including in the devolved administrations. As such, no Barnett consequentials have been paid to Scotland in respect of resources allocated to UK Trade and Investment since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.

Work Experience

Hazel Blears: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were made to HM Revenue and Customs about unpaid internships in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

David Gauke: HMRC classifies its minimum wage investigations as either complaints received from workers or those that HMRC generates itself using intelligence based risk assessment processes.
	Before August 2011, HMRC did not specifically collect information on whether workers making complaints about non-payment of the minimum wage were interns. In 2011-12, 43 complaints were received from workers who stated that they were interns. This represents approximately 3% of the total number of complaints referred to HMRC from the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.
	In response to extensive media commentary on the widespread abuse of workers' rights through the use of unpaid interns, HMRC commenced a multi-stranded approach to tackling non-compliance related to unpaid workers, including interns. This comprised working with the Pay and Work Rights Helpline to establish a fast track process for dealing with all intern-related queries from workers across all trade sectors. Under this process all intern-related calls are being directed to the HMRC NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) for immediate action to establish the facts from workers and investigate the employers' practices in appropriate cases.
	The second element of the approach was to carry out targeted enforcement activity within the fashion and TV/film production sectors. Follow-up action on this targeted enforcement is to be carried out in September and October 2012.

Employment Schemes: Young People

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many youth contract placements have been started in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the City of Edinburgh local authority area; and what proportion of such placements are with smaller employers.

Mark Hoban: The youth contract went live in April 2012. It includes wage incentives to employers taking on young people attached to the work programme and extra work experience and sector- based work academy placements.
	In most cases wage incentives are paid after a young person has been in work continuously for 26-weeks. Following the collection and quality assurance of this data, I expect the first set of official statistics on wage incentive payment data to be available from early 2013. The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity.
	Official statistics for work experience and sector-based work academy starts from the start of the youth contract in April 2012 to May 2012 show:
	
		
			 Work experience starts (April and May) 
			 GB (excludes Northern Ireland) 9,870 
			 Scotland 1,030 
			 City of Edinburgh LA 40 
		
	
	
		
			 Sector-based work academy starts (April and May) 
			 GB (excludes Northern Ireland and Wales) 2410 
			 Scotland 200 
			 City of Edinburgh LA 20 
			 Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 
		
	
	We do not routinely collect data on employers by size and neither do we require claimants to tell us which employer they have successfully found work with, therefore we do not know what proportion of placements are with small employers.

Pensions: Financial Assistance Scheme

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people are making repayments to the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  how many people have failed to repay in their lifetime the entire sum they owned to the Financial Assistance Scheme; how many such people have repaid more than the sum they owed to the scheme; and whether there has been a net loss or net gain to the public purse as a result;
	(3)  what steps are taken to remove repayment deductions from the pension of pensioners who have repaid in full money owed to the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Steve Webb: 3,881 people are repaying money to the Financial Assistance scheme (FAS), of these 3,846 had their FAS assistance adjusted to take account of the overpayment. The remainder have no ongoing entitlement to FAS payments.
	The information requested in respect of the number of people who have either failed to repay their FAS overpayment or overpaid a FAS overpayment is not available in the format requested. To date 99 members have died before repaying their FAS overpayment.
	The FAS scheme manager recovers the overpayment over the life time of a member in the form of a notional annuity, which is calculated taking into account actuarial mortality assumptions (and other actuarial assumptions). If an individual member lives longer than predicted they will pay back more. However, the effect of the assumptions used is in general more members will pay back less than they owe. This approach is in line with the general action taken by an occupational pension scheme, who on completion of winding up identify that a member has been overpaid. If members request they may pay back the overpayment as a lump sum.
	In all cases the FAS scheme manager will consider representations to waive the recovery of a FAS overpayment.

Personal Independence Payment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which organisations bid for the contract to deliver personal independence payments;
	(2)  how many representations he has received on the awarding of the contract to deliver personal independence payments to Atos;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to put in place monitoring and assessment procedures to ensure Atos adheres to its contract to deliver personal independence payments;
	(4)  if he will place a copy of the contract agreed with Atos for the delivery of personal independence payments in the Library;
	(5)  whether the contract for delivery of the personal independence payment (PIP) includes any targets to reduce (a) the number of people who receive PIP and (b) the amount paid out through PIP.

Esther McVey: 10 organisations were appointed to the Health and Disability Assessment Services Framework and were eligible to bid for the contract to deliver personal independence payment assessments. Of these, six organisations bid for the contract to deliver personal independence payment assessments; they were APM Ltd, Atos Origin, Avanta Enterprises Ltd, Capita Group plc, G4S Integrated Services (UK) Ltd and Vertex Ltd.
	To date, the number of representations received regarding the award of the contract to deliver personal independence payment assessments to Atos Origin is seven. These representations have come from claimants, parliamentary questions, Freedom of Information requests and Members of Parliament.
	We have built robust expectations of performance into the contracts with Atos Origin and Capita Group plc; these include a range of remedies which allow the Department to take action on minor, as well as more significant, poor performance.
	In addition, within two years of go-live, an independent review will be carried out, along the lines of Professor Harrington's reviews of the work capability assessment. Redacted copies of the Atos Origin and Capita Group plc tender documents were published on Contracts Finder for the three Great Britain lots on 21 August. Copies of these will be placed in the Library.
	The contracts awarded for the delivery of the personal independence payment (PIP) do not include any targets to reduce the number of people who receive PIP or the amount paid out through PIP. The only targets are based on the quality of assessments carried out. Assessment providers will not be paid according to the outcome of claimants' assessments or decisions on benefit entitlement. They will be paid for the production of fair and impartial assessments along with written and verbal medical advice, investment in new technology and other service improvements with associated fixed overheads and administrative costs.

Social Security Benefits: Young People

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged (a) 19, (b) 20 and (c) 21 years were in receipt of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The number of people aged (a) 19, (b) 20 and (c) 21 years old who were in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) at February 2012 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of JSA claimants by age: February 2012 
			 Age JSA claimants 
			 Total 1,589,640 
			 19 79,850 
			 20 80,250 
			 21 73,070 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The latest available data is at February 2012. 3. Figures include “credit” only cases. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	The number of people aged (a) 19, (b) 20 and (c) 21 years old who were in receipt of housing benefit (HB) and HB with income-based JSA at May 2012 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of HB claimants, including those who are in receipt of income-based JSA: May 2012 
			 Age HB claimants HB claimants with income-based JSA 
			 Total 5,031,740 664,090 
			 19 33,240 10,780 
			 20 46,120 14,610 
			 21 56,740 15,880 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Age groups are based on the age on the count data (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. 3. Recipients are as at the second Thursday of the month. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and May 2012 is the most recent available. Source: Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) 
		
	
	The number of claimants of HB and Contributory-Based JSA is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Young People

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged (a) 19, (b) 20 and (c) 21 years old were in receipt of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) both jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit in (A) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (B) the London borough of Bexley and (C) Greater London in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The number of recipients who claim housing benefit (HB) and jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) is not available.
	Information is available for those HB claimants whose claim is passported: that is for those who receive either income support, jobseeker’s allowance (income-based), employment and support allowance (income-based), or pension credit (guaranteed credit).
	The Department does collect information on those in receipt of JSA on the housing benefit data source (SHBE) but to assess the completeness of recording and quality assure the figures would incur disproportionate cost.
	Information is not readily available for housing benefit recipients by age at parliamentary constituency level, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. A one-off exercise was carried out on the January 2011 data to provide a parliamentary constituency breakdown. The results were published on the Department's website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hb_ctb_ parlc_jan11.xls
	There are no plans to repeat the exercise which took around 20-working days to complete.
	
		
			 Number of JSA claimants for Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency, the London borough of Bexley and London region by Age: February 2012 
			 JSA claimants London region London b orough of Bexley 
			 Total 234,100 4,800 
			 Age:   
			 19 7,950 250 
			 20 8,880 240 
			 21 8,620 210 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The latest available data is at February 2012. 3. Figures include “credit” only cases. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study. 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of housing benefit claimants including those who are in receipt of income-based JSA for the London borough of Bexley and London region by Age: May 2012 
			  HB claimants HB claimants with JSA (income-based) 
			  London region London borough of Bexley London region London borough of Bexley 
			 Total 845,740 14,780 109,870 1,710 
			 Age:     
			 19 3,850 80 1,010 20 
			 20 5,210 150 1,490 30 
			 21 6,530 180 1,780 30 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (a) the recipient if they are single, or 3. Recipients are as at the second Thursday of the month. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and May 2012 is the most recent available. Source: Single housing benefit extract (SHBE)

Anti-slavery Day

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to mark Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October 2012.

Helen Grant: I refer to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 11 September 2012, Official Report, column 183W. The Government is committed to marking Anti-Slavery Day. Plans are still being considered and will be announced in due course.

Drugs: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the highest number of drug rehabilitation orders is under community sentences or suspended sentence orders that have been given to an offender over the period of their offending history in each of the last three years.

Jeremy Wright: From 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 the highest number of drug rehabilitation requirements under community sentences or suspended sentence orders that were given to an offender is estimated to be eight. In any one of these single years the highest number of drug rehabilitation requirements given to an offender is estimated to be six. It has not been possible to look at drug rehabilitation requirements over the course of the offending history without incurring significant costs.
	The numbers in the paragraph above represent the maximum number of drug rehabilitation requirements given to an offender in either a single year, or over the course of three years. These figures are significantly higher than for any typical offender—the average number of drug rehabilitation requirements given to offenders under community sentences or suspended sentence orders over the three year period, and within each single year, is one.
	Additionally, it is possible that these figures may slightly overestimate the number of distinct requirements given because of recording arrangements. For example, when dealing with a breach, the court can either amend the existing order to make it more onerous, or revoke the order and re-sentence the offender for the original offence. In the first case the existing order continues and in the second case the original sentence is replaced with a new sentence. Such outcomes could be recorded in such a way to suggest that a new drug rehabilitation requirement had been imposed but this would be incorrect. It has not been possible to investigate if this has been the case without incurring disproportionate costs.
	This information has been derived from records of probation commencements that in turn have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Paul Uppal: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps he has taken to tackle uninsured vehicles.

Stephen Hammond: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The number of uninsured vehicles in Great Britain has fallen to 1.2 million from 1.4 million in 2010 due to a combination of police enforcement activity (better detection through automatic number plate recognition equipment and seizure of uninsured vehicles) as well as the continuous insurance enforcement scheme.
	(b) Since June 2011, action has been taken against those who keep a vehicle without insurance, known as the continuous insurance enforcement scheme. At 31 August 2012, 177,086 fixed penalty notices had been issued to registered keepers and 834 cases successfully prosecuted.
	We are also working with the insurance industry to allow it access to DVLA driver details on penalty points and disqualifications to help tackle fraud. The Government is concerned that the rising cost of insurance may tempt motorists to drive without insurance and is working closely with the insurance industry on measures which will help reduce premiums. An industry summit was held on 2 May on the cost of insurance and follow-up work is in progress.

Electric Vehicles

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the law on the use of Segway Personal Transporters and other personal electric vehicles in public areas.

Stephen Hammond: We have no plans, at present, to review the requirements relating to Segway Personal Transporters and other personal electric vehicles (EPVs) for use on the highway. EPVs are mechanically propelled vehicles and as such must be approved, registered, taxed and insured before they can be used on the road. In addition the rider would need the appropriate driving licence.
	A review and public consultation was undertaken by DFT in early 2010 and the results published in November that year. A copy is available at the following weblink:
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/20110203024612/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/2010-01/

Motorways: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people repairing motorways have been killed or injured by vehicles in each of the last five years.

Stephen Hammond: The following table sets out the fatal and serious injuries from vehicle related incidents which have been recorded on the motorway and trunk road network in England which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport.
	
		
			  Fatality Serious injury 
			 2007 0 0 
			 2008 0 2 
			 2009 0 0 
			 2010 2 4 
			 2011 0 1 
		
	
	For slight injuries, the data currently available include all contractor injuries (i.e. not just those involving vehicles):
	
		
			  Slight injury 
			 2007 29 
			 2008 54 
			 2009 75 
			 2010 47 
			 2011 46 
		
	
	The data above are supplied by the contractors working for the Highways Agency.

Roads: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorists were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in sleep-related road traffic accidents in Barnsley Central since May 2010.

Stephen Hammond: The number of persons killed or seriously injured in reported personal injury road accidents where “Fatigue” was a contributory factor since May 2010 in the Yorkshire and the Humber region are as follows:
	May 2010 to December 2010: five killed and 13 seriously injured; and
	January 2011 to December 2011: five killed and 25 seriously injured.
	The figures include all road user casualties including pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and all other road users.
	Data for 2012 will be available in June 2013. This data is not broken down below regional level since the number of accidents is small and therefore it may be possible to identify the individuals involved in an accident.

Council Tax Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds about (a) the claimant caseload in Brighton and Hove for the receipt of council tax benefit over the period from 2009-10 to 2011-12 and (b) the forecast council tax benefit claimant caseload in Brighton and Hove expected in 2012-13 and 2013-14; if he will make it his policy to take account of local authority forecasts of future claimant caseload in the calculation of the council tax support grant; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The council tax benefit caseload for Brighton and Hove at May 2012 was 28,540. This information is published by the Department for Work and Pensions at the following link:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/hb_ctb/hbctb_release_ aug12.xls
	Receipt of council tax benefit in every month between November 2008 and May 2012 can be found in table 10.
	Forecast council tax benefit caseload is not available for individual local authorities.
	Forecasts of the future number of council tax benefit recipients at a Great Britain level and by country is published by the Department for Work and Pensions at the following link:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/budget_2012_300712.xls
	Line 81 gives the Great Britain caseload, and lines 103 to 105 give the total caseload by country.
	For the purposes of determining the grant distribution, we will use local authorities' share of 2011-12 subsidised council tax benefit expenditure.
	As the Government has made clear in the ‘Localising Council Tax Support—Funding Allocation Consultation:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/2146644?view=Standard
	published in May 2012, the overall allocation for council tax support will be based on the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast of council tax benefit expenditure for Great Britain in 2013-14. The final figures are due to be published in the autumn and will take account of claimant numbers adjusted in relation to identified trends in claimant numbers and level of council tax.
	From April 2013, our reforms will localise council tax support and give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people back into work. Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Administration and welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit we have inherited.

Council Tax Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the new council tax support system on (a) council tax arrears (i) nationally and (ii) by local authority and (b) the resources needed by local authorities for arrears collection; whether his Department intends to provide local authorities with resources to (A) assess whether any people who cease to receive full council tax benefit and who subsequently fall into arrears are facing hardship and (B) help people in arrears design and maintain a viable repayment plan; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is committed to ensuring that all net new burdens on local government are fully funded and does not intend the administration of local schemes to put pressure on local government finances. My Department has already provided £30 million to local authorities as an initial payment. The Government is therefore working with local authorities to assess the net impact of localisation of support for council tax, including the transitional costs of moving to the new arrangements, in accordance with the new burdens doctrine.

Fire Stations: Ambulance Services

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many fire stations in England operate a co-response with the Ambulance Service;
	(2)  how many fire stations in England operate a co-responder scheme with an ambulance service.

Brandon Lewis: The Department does not collect information on the number of fire stations in England that co-respond with the ambulance service.

Unemployment

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the latest unemployment figures for Scotland.

David Mundell: The latest claimant count figures for Scotland published this morning by the Office for National Statistics show a fall of 600 for the month of August. Claimant count level in Scotland is 2,800 lower compared to one year ago. Any fall in unemployment during these challenging economic times must be welcome news.

Coastguard Stations

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had on the closure of Scottish coastguard stations.

David Mundell: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Transport on the Coastguard modernisation programme.

Stalking

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to train the Crown Prosecution Service in the interpretation of the new laws on stalking.

Dominic Grieve: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will be updating its Legal Guidance on Stalking and Harassment to reflect the new stalking offences prior to commencement of the stalking offences on 25 November 2012. A compulsory e-learning module for roll out in 2012-13 is also being developed to further support prosecutors in prosecuting all forms of stalking.

Cancer

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what funds his Department has allocated to the work led by the Health and Social Care Information Centre on the development of one and five year cancer survival rate indicators for inclusion in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework;
	(2)  when he plans to publish a public consultation on the Commissioning Outcomes Framework indicators;
	(3)  whether third sector organisations will be able to engage with the Health and Social Care Information Centre on the development of one and five year cancer survival rate indicators for inclusion in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework.

Norman Lamb: It is for the NHS Commissioning Board to decide on the content of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority is currently undertaking discussions with national stakeholder organisations, including third sector organisations, to discuss the shape of the Commissioning Outcomes Framework for 2013-14 and beyond.
	Funding for the development of potential measures for the Commissioning Outcomes Framework is subsumed within the Health and Social Care Information Centre's baseline.

Cancer

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 224W, on cancer, for what reasons cancer survival rate indicators were not recommended for inclusion in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework 2013-14;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 26 June 2012, Official Report, column 224W, on cancer, what progress has been made in developing a composite indicator showing one-year survival rates for all cancers;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the role of clinical commissioning groups in achieving the Government's aim of saving additional lives from cancer.

Norman Lamb: The National Health Service Commissioning Board (NHS CB) will be responsible for decisions on the commissioning outcomes framework, which the board will use to measure the quality of care commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the associated health outcomes. The recommendations developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) are intended to support the NHS CB in designing the framework.
	We understand that NICE was unable to include any cancer survival rate measures in its recommendations because it had not at that stage been possible to develop an appropriate methodology.
	The Information Centre is working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to develop a methodology for composite one-year survival rate indicators for all cancers for potential inclusion in the NHS outcomes framework and commissioning outcomes framework (COF). These are complex measures that require linkage of ONS population statistics with cancer registry data and attribution to clinical commissioning groups, as well as testing the robustness of the measures. It is likely to take some months to complete this work.
	The NHS CB will decide on the content of the COF and is expected to publish the list of measures for 2013-14 in the autumn. If not included in the 2013-14 framework, the board may choose a separate publication route for the data that does exist, to ensure the information is available transparently to the public.
	Public health and the national health service will both have a role to play in delivering the improvements to survival rates. Within the NHS, some services will be commissioned by the NHS CB (primary care and specialised services).and some by clinical commissioning groups for their populations. The role of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will therefore be to ensure the commissioning of appropriate services to deliver against the areas for which they will be responsible. These will include, for example, commissioning of surgery for cancers that are not covered by the specialised commissioning arrangements and commissioning of follow-up care for most cancers. CCGs are also responsible for supporting the board in improving the quality of primary medical care. It is not possible to separate out what proportion of the 5,000 lives are the responsibility of the different organisations, but they are all responsible for working together to deliver the improvements.
	We are providing a range of support for CCGs to help us deliver on our ambition to save 5,000 additional lives. The provision of high quality information is key to driving service improvement and we have developed commissioner profiles that will allow CCGs to benchmark their cancer performance with other CCGs. NICE is developing a range of quality standards for cancer care which will be an important resource for CCGs in helping them to commission high quality services to drive up quality and outcomes.

Dementia

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the implications for his policies of the findings of the University of Manchester's recent study into the quality of care provided to people with dementia.

Norman Lamb: The report highlights the need for people with dementia to receive regular reviews of their care.
	The Government recognises the need to improve the care and support people with dementia and their carers receive, which is why we launched the Prime Minister's challenge on dementia on 26 March. Driving improvements in health and care is a key strand of the challenge and we want to see all people with dementia receive a written integrated care plan.

Dementia

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the (a) diagnosis of dementia and (b) treatment for people with dementia.

Norman Lamb: Dementia diagnosis rates have increased in England in the last year, but we recognise that there is more to do which is why improving diagnosis rates is a key part of the National Dementia Strategy and the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.
	Through the Prime Minister's Challenge we will ensure that general practitioners and other health professionals make patients aged 65 and over aware of memory clinics and refer those in need of assessment.
	We will work to ensure that there are adequate memory services across the country and we are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to drive up the proportion of memory services which are accredited.
	From April 2013, there will be a quantified ambition for diagnosis rates across the country, underpinned by robust and affordable plans.
	We are developing a new tool which will help clinical commissioning groups calculate the prevalence of dementia within their local area. The tool will also help them to map the demand for and supply of appropriate dementia services, and to create local trajectories for increased diagnosis.
	Improving health and care support for people with dementia is one of the key strands of the Prime Minister's challenge and, as part of the challenge, we have developed the Dementia Care and Support Compact.
	The purpose of the Compact with major care providers is to improve care and support for people with dementia living at home and in care homes. Through this vehicle, the care sector is committing to leading initiatives to improve the quality of care for people with dementia. The Compact focuses on quality of life for people with dementia and the delivery of relationship-based care and support. Currently over 190 organisations, including the leading providers of care and support, have signed up to the Compact.
	From April 2012, £54 million will be available through the Dementia CQUIN (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation) payment framework to hospitals offering dementia risk assessments to all over-75s admitted to their care. From April 2013, this will be extended to the quality of dementia care delivered. Also from April 2013 access to all CQUIN rewards will be dependent on delivering support for carers in line with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence/Social Care Institute for Excellence guidelines.
	We are working with the Royal Colleges to respond to the challenge of dementia by bringing forward plans to ensure that all their members are capable and competent in dementia care.

Dementia

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to improve awareness of dementia among (a) NHS staff, (b) local GPs and (c) the public.

Norman Lamb: The Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia, published in March 2012, calls on the Royal Colleges to respond to the challenge of dementia by bringing forward plans to ensure that their members are capable and competent in dementia care. Objective 13 of the National Dementia Strategy also concerns an informed and effective work force for people with dementia. The Department has established a Workforce Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Alistair Burns, National Clinical Director for Dementia, to support the delivery of objective 13 across health and social care.
	The Department will launch a national Dementia awareness campaign starting 21 September and running until January 2013. It will consist of television, press, magazine and digital advertising supported by public relations and social media. The campaign aims to increase early diagnosis of dementia by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms, and encouraging people to discuss any concerns they have with their general practitioner.

Haemophilia

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that people with haemophilia who contracted hepatitis C through contaminated blood transfusions are being treated with the most up-to-date hepatitis C treatment recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Anna Soubry: Primary care trusts are legally required to make funding available to enable clinicians to prescribe treatments recommended by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. This must occur within three months of publication of the technology appraisal. The Government has committed to ensuring that NHS commissioners will continue to be required to make funding available for drugs and treatments recommended by NICE technology appraisals. This includes recommendations on hepatitis C treatments, the most recent of which were published in April 2012. Decisions on the prescribing of drugs for the treatment of individuals patients are made by clinicians.

Health

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the responsibility deal; and whether he plans to propose changes to any aspect of the responsibility deal.

Anna Soubry: Through the public health responsibility seal over 415 public health, voluntary, public sector and commercial organisations have signed up to play their part in improving the public's health by helping people to adopt a healthier diet, foster a culture of responsible drinking, increasing physical activity levels and improving the health of their staff. The responsibility deal will continue to play an important part in delivering these ambitions.

Health Services

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the proposed ban on age discrimination in the provision of services will be applied within the NHS;
	(2)  what effect the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 will have on age inequalities in breast cancer services;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that commissioners are fully aware of the requirements of the Equality Act 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what guidance his Department plans to issue on implementation of the Equality Act 2010 in respect of (a) health and social care and (b) breast cancer services;
	(5)  what effect the implementation of the public sector duty in the NHS will have on breast cancer services;
	(6)  how progress in delivering reductions in inequalities in breast cancer services will be measured following the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Anna Soubry: Information and guidance about duties under the Equality Act 2010 have already been made available to the national health service, including commissioners, via the Equality Delivery System published in 2011 and publicised through the NHS Operating Framework for England and the Department's regular bulletins for senior NHS managers. This is in addition to information and guidance published by the NHS Commissioning Board Authority and the Government Equalities Office and the Equality and Human Rights Commission for all public authorities.
	The ban on age discrimination in the provision of services will be applied from 1 October 2012. Guidance on the ban on age discrimination has been available to the NHS since May 2010 and there have been a number of subsequent communications to the NHS to update on progress towards the ban, which have included a link to this guidance. The most recent of these communications was in June 2012 as follows:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/06/the-week-issue-252/
	The Equality Act 2010 public sector Equality Duty supports the NHS Constitution core principle that NHS services should be available to all, and that patients and the public have the right not to be discriminated against. The Equality Duty will help ensure that NHS services, including breast cancer services, consider the needs of all individuals.
	Measuring reductions in inequalities in breast cancer services following the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 will be a matter for the NHS Commissioning Board.
	Specifically on breast cancer, Statement 6 of the National Institute for Health .and Clinical Excellence Quality Standard on Breast Cancer states:
	“People with early invasive breast cancer, irrespective of age, are offered surgery, radiotherapy and appropriate systemic therapy, unless significant comorbidity precludes it”.
	In addition, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support we are funding the ‘Improving Cancer Treatment, Assessment and Support for Older People Project’ to test and evaluate new methods of clinical assessment of people with a diagnosis of cancer; co-ordinate and deliver short-term practical support packages for older people undergoing treatment for cancer; and promote age equality to address age discriminatory behaviour in cancer services.

Mental Health Services

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an assessment of the conclusions of the Centre for Economic Performance report entitled How mental illness loses out in the NHS published in June 2012.

Norman Lamb: The Department has assessed the Centre for Economic Performance's report, “How mental Illness loses out in the NHS”, and agrees with the report's conclusions on the importance of investment in mental health services and on the necessity of treating mental ill health as seriously as physical ill health. Our mental health strategy “No Health Without Mental Health”, and the recently published implementation framework, makes our commitment to these principles clear.

Nurses: Schools

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that school nurses transferring to health visiting are replaced.

Daniel Poulter: It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities (SHAs), in conjunction with their associated deaneries, higher education institutes, primary care trusts and national health service trusts to commission the appropriate level of healthcare work force training posts to meet the needs of the local population including taking into account staff moving between work force groups.
	It is entirely appropriate that individual healthcare providers plan and develop their work force. However, a measure of cooperation and joint planning for the development of the work force is required in healthcare and this is currently supported by the SHAs. The SHAs are best placed to commission the education and training programmes, on behalf of providers, to benefit from economies of scale and contract management expertise.
	SHAs will remain responsible for commissioning pre-registration courses until April 2013 and will be responsible for the safe transfer of training contracts to new local education and training boards from this date.

Orthopaedics

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are waiting for orthopaedic operations; and what the comparable figures were in each of the previous five years.

Anna Soubry: The information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times, England 
			 As at June each year Number of trauma and orthopaedics RTT patients waiting at the end of the month 
			 2008 396,024 
			 2009 365,473 
			 2010 389,159 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 383,336 
			 2012 367,045 
			 Note: The table shows the number of trauma and orthopaedic patients still waiting to start treatment at the end of the month. Not all of these patients will be waiting for an orthopaedic operation. Source: Department of Health RTT waiting times statistics (Unify2 data collection). 
		
	
	Information has not been provided for June 2007 as the Department's RTT waiting times data for patients waiting to start treatment has been published since August 2007.

Thalidomide

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's review of payments made to people affected by thalidomide on their levels of stress and mental state.

Norman Lamb: The Government has not made and assessment of the effect of its evaluation of the three-year Thalidomide grant pilot scheme on the mental state and stress levels of its recipients.

Animal Experiments

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her Department's publication entitled Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2011, published on 10 July 2012, what the precise nature was of the procedures in which cats were used; what the aims were of such procedures; what the reasons are for the increase in the number of procedures involving cats between 2010 and 2011; what the evidential basis is for the statistics on the sources of cats used in procedures set out in Table 2, on page 24; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Cats (along with dogs, non-human primates and horses) are given special protection under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and may only be used if no other species is suitable or it is not practicable to obtain animals of any other species that are suitable for the purposes of the relevant programme of work.
	Of the 235 procedures using cats reported in the Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 2011, 227 were of mild severity and eight of moderate severity. Details of the precise aims and nature of those procedures are not held centrally. Total procedures using cats rose by 26% in 2011, a rise of 48, mainly in studies relating to cat health and nutrition.
	The annual return of procedures submitted by project licence holders provides the evidence base for the sources of cats set out in Table 2, on page 24 of the 2011 annual statistics.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many regulated procedures were carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2011;
	(2)  how many (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and other equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates were used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2011;
	(3)  how many animals were used in regulated procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2011;
	(4)  what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were carried out for (a) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity and (b) toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation in 2011;
	(5)  what proportion of procedures regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and carried out in Scotland were conducted without anaesthesia in 2011;
	(6)  how many regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involved (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and other equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates in 2011; and how many such procedures involved (i) genetically-modified animals and (ii) animals with a harmful genetic defect;
	(7)  what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2011 were performed in (a) public health laboratories, (b) universities and medical schools, (c) NHS hospitals, (d) Government Departments, (e) other public bodies, (f) non-profit-making organisations and (g) commercial organisations;
	(8)  how many (a) genetically-modified animals and (b) animals with a harmful genetic defect were used in regulated procedures conducted in Scotland under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2011.

James Brokenshire: The number of regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2011 was 655,910.
	During 2011, in Scotland, 315,723 mice, 38,572 rats, 997 guinea pigs, 549 hamsters, 1,399 rabbits, 91 horses and other equids, 4,563 sheep, 746 pigs, 15,859 birds, 265 amphibians, no reptiles, 265,191 fish, no cats, 312 dogs, no new world primates and 58 old world primates were used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	During 2011, in Scotland, the number of regulated procedures started for non-toxicological purposes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 594,014 (90.6 per cent), and the number started for toxicological purposes was 61,896 (9.4%).
	There were a total of 655,910 regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Scotland in 2011 of which 529,961 (81%) used no form of anaesthesia.
	During 2011, in Scotland, there were 315,793 procedures using mice, 38,574 using rats, 1,005 using guinea pigs, 549 using hamsters, 3,078 using rabbits, 2,038 using horses and other equids, 6,295 using sheep, 767 using pigs, 15,860 using birds, 1,672 using amphibians, none using reptiles, 265,226 using fish, none using cats, 452 using dogs, none using new world primates and 244 using old world primates used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	During 2011, in Scotland, a total of 655,910 regulated procedures were started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, of which 215,530 involved genetically modified animals and 11,855 involved animals with a harmful genetic defect.
	During 2011, in Scotland the total number of procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 655,910. Of these, 572,972 or 87% were carried out at universities or medical schools, 19,322 or 3% at Government Departments, 29,802 or 5% at other public bodies, 33,550 or 5% at commercial organisations, and 264 or 0.04% at non-profit making organisations. None were started at public health laboratories or NHS hospitals.
	During 2011, in Scotland, a total of 647,569 animals were used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, of which 215,508 were genetically modified and 11,855 were animals with a harmful genetic defect.

Animal Experiments: Scotland

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences were granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2010; and how many such project licences were in force at the end of 2011 in respect of work to be carried out in Scotland.

James Brokenshire: During 2010 515 project licences in total were granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the United Kingdom of which 100 were granted at designated establishments in Scotland.
	A total of 467 project licences were in force on the 31 December 2011 at designated establishments in Scotland, 88 of those were granted during 2011.

Animal Experiments: Wales

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were carried out for (a) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity and (b) toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation in 2011;
	(2)  what proportion of procedures regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which were carried out in Wales, was conducted without anaesthesia in 2011;
	(3)  what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were performed in (a) public health laboratories, (b) universities and medical schools, (c) NHS hospitals, (d) Government departments, (e) other public bodies, (f) non-profit-making organisations and (g) commercial organisations in 2011;
	(4)  how many regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involved (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and other equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates in 2011; and how many such procedures involved (i) genetically-modified animals and (ii) animals with a harmful genetic defect;
	(5)  how many regulated procedures were carried out under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales in 2011;
	(6)  how many (a) genetically-modified animals and (b) animals with a harmful genetic defect were used in regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2011;
	(7)  how many (a) mice, (b) rats, (c) guinea pigs, (d) hamsters, (e) rabbits, (f) horses and equids, (g) sheep, (h) pigs, (i) birds, (j) amphibians, (k) reptiles, (l) fish, (m) cats, (n) dogs, (o) new world primates and (p) old world primates were used in regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2011;
	(8)  how many individual animals were used in regulated procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales in 2011.

James Brokenshire: During 2011, in Wales, the number of regulated procedures started for non-toxicological purposes under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 54,330 (100%), and none were started for toxicological purposes.
	There were a total of 54,330 regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in Wales in 2011 of which 44,322 (82%) used no form of anaesthesia.
	During 2011, in Wales the total number of procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was 54,330. Of these, 52,366 or 96% were carried out at universities or medical schools, 1,791 or 3% at public health laboratories and 173 or less than 1% at commercial organisations. None were started at NHS hospitals, Government Departments, other public bodies or non-profit making organisations.
	During 2011, in Wales, there were 44,781 procedures using mice, 4,681 using rats, 746 using guinea pigs, none using hamsters, two using rabbits, none using horses and other equids, 314 using sheep, none using pigs, 293 using birds, 72 using amphibians, none using reptiles, 3,400 using fish, none using cats, none using dogs, none using new world primates and none using old world primates used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	During 2011, in Wales, a total of 54,330 regulated procedures were started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, of which 28,937 involved genetically modified animals and 821 involved animals with a harmful genetic defect.
	During 2011, in Wales, a total of 53,311 animals were used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, of which 28,841 were genetically modified and 821 were animals with a harmful genetic defect.
	During 2011, in Wales, 44,356 mice, 4,249 rats, 746 guinea pigs, no hamsters, two rabbits, no horses and other equids, 279 sheep, no pigs, 254 birds, no reptiles, 3,400 fish, no cats, no dogs, no new world primates and no old world primates were used in regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In addition, a small number of amphibians were used in 72 regulated procedures started under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 but data on the number of animals used and reused is subject to further quality assurance.

Animal Experiments: Wales

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences were granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2010; and how many such project licences were in force at the end of 2011 in respect of work to be carried out in Wales.

James Brokenshire: During 2010 515 project licences in total were granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in the United Kingdom of which eight were granted at designated establishments in Wales. A total of 70 project licences were in force on 31 December 2011 at designated establishments in Wales, 17 of those were granted during 2011.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many automatic number plate recognition cameras were in use in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last six years; and how many she expects to be in use in the next two years.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are operated by a wide range of public authorities and private organisations, and the information requested is not held centrally. The number of ANPR cameras in use by police forces in England and Wales varies on a daily basis. Information supplied by the National Police Improvement Agency indicates that, during the week ending 5 September 2012, 5,670 cameras were being operated by police forces in England, 294 cameras were being operated by police forces in Wales and 48 cameras were being operated by the British Transport Police (which operates in England, Wales and Scotland).
	The Government has not made any estimate on the number of ANPR cameras that are likely to be used in the future.

Internet: Harassment

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether she plans to regulate providers of social media, where that medium is used to stalk or harass victims;
	(2)  whether she plans to encourage providers of social media to introduce a code of conduct on the misuse of that medium if it is used to stalk or harass victims.

Jeremy Browne: The Government takes all forms of harassment very seriously. We are working with internet service providers and social media to identify effective practice and improve the response to online harassment and stalking.

National Crime Agency

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the (a) composition, (b) recruitment and (c) deployment of the National Crime Agency (NCA); and whether she plans to engage NCA Specials.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 11 September 2012
	The National Crime Agency (NCA) will be an agency of operational crime fighters, comprising four commands (Organised Crime, Border Policing, Economic Crime and Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)) and a National Cyber Crime Unit. It will be driven by an ‘intelligence hub' and an effective set of tasking and co ordination arrangements. Subject to the passage of legislation, the NCA will be established by the end of 2013. As set out in the NCA plan, the intention is that the NCA will be UK-wide, in recognition of the reach and threat of serious and organised crime, and it will respect devolution of policing in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	The majority of the NCA's work force, which will number approximately 4,000, will be made up of staff from existing precursor bodies, for example: the Serious Organised Crime Agency including CEOP; and transferred capabilities from the National Police Improvement Agency and the Metropolitan Police Central e-Crime Unit. In addition, to drive the design and build of the agency, senior posts have been recruited including Keith Bristow (former chief constable of Warwickshire), who was appointed as the NCA's first director general at the end of last year.
	The Crime and Courts Bill also allows for the recruitment of volunteer NCA Specials to complement the NCA's wider work force. They may be designated by the Director General with policing powers in England and Wales, however, the Bill makes it clear that an NCA Special cannot be designated with the powers and privileges of a Northern Ireland constable.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to impose any penalties on G4S as a result of it not training enough security staff for the London 2012 Olympics.

James Brokenshire: The contract for venue security at the London 2012 Games is between G4S and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). The contract contains penalty clauses for non-delivery and LOCOG is seeking to enforce relevant provisions. This will be reflected in the settlement that the Government pays to reimburse LOCOG for venue security costs.

Olympic Games 2012: Security

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has discussed with (a) G4S and (b) others recruitment to serve in security roles at the London 2012 Olympics of experienced retired personnel from Northern Ireland who have served in both the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Army.

James Brokenshire: The contract to provide security guards for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is between the London Organising Committee, LOCOG, and G4S. I understand that applications for security roles from former police and military personnel were especially welcomed in view of their background and experience. We are grateful to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for their help in providing officers under mutual aid arrangements, funded by the Home Office, to help deliver a safe and secure Games.

Theft: Metals

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal advice she has received on the legality of banning cash payments for scrap metal; and if she will place a copy of any such advice in the Library.

Jeremy Browne: Legal advice is by law subject to legal professional privilege. For this reason the Government do not normally comment on what legal advice it has received on any matter.

Academies

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which are the parties to funding agreements signed in respect of schools converting to academy status.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 17 July 2012
	The parties to Funding Agreements signed in respect of schools converting to Academy status are the Secretary of State for Education and the Academy Trust.
	The Funding Agreement is the method by which Academies are held accountable to the Department. It is a contract between DFE and the Academy Trust which specifies how the Academy is run, what duties it is under and what powers the Secretary of State for Education has over the Academy.
	The Department has developed templates for the Funding Agreement and these are available at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/primary/steps/b00204874/supporting-documents-for-schools-converting-to-academies/model-documentation-for-single-academies

Academies

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the respective roles and responsibilities are of (a) local education authorities, (b) school governing bodies, (c) officials in his Department and (d) sponsors in the (i) negotiation and (ii) approval of funding agreements in respect of a school converting to academy status.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 17 July 2012
	The approval of a funding agreement between the Secretary of State for Education and the Academy Trust is the final stage in the process of a school becoming an Academy. To reach that agreement, officials in the Department will have had discussions with the school governing body, the local authority and a sponsor where applicable. The school governing body has particular responsibility for consulting locally and passing a resolution to become an Academy.
	Further information on becoming an Academy is set out in the guidance documentation on the Department's website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies

Academies: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2012, Official Report, columns 587-8W, on academies: primary education, with which schools in Birmingham officials in his Department have engaged directly; what the results of that engagement have been in respect of each school; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 17 July 2012
	All schools, including special schools and pupil referral units, are able to become Academies. Departmental officials engage with schools to find the best route for them to achieve Academy status. For schools that wish to convert, engagement takes place when the Department receives an expression of interest or application from the school to convert. For schools below the floor standard or in Ofsted ‘special measures' and ‘notice to improve' categories, officials in the Department, working closely with the local authority when possible, will make contact with the school to discuss options for a sponsored solution to drive up performance. As of 1 September there are 41 primary schools in Birmingham in the pipeline to become Academies, and 15 are open as Academies. When an Academy solution is agreed for a primary school, the name of the school will be added to the Department's published lists of Academies in development at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00208569/open-academies
	We do not name schools where we are in the early stages of exploring sponsored Academy options. We believe this has the potential to disrupt schools concerned.

Academies: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding agreements have been signed in respect of schools converting to academy status in Birmingham, by date and school; and when he expects funding agreements not yet signed to be completed by school.

Elizabeth Truss: holding answer 17 July 2012
	As of 1 September, 46 funding agreements have been signed for schools converting to Academy status in Birmingham. Of these, 31 are converters and 15 are sponsored. A further 46 are in the pipeline for conversion to Academy status (18 converters and 28 sponsored). Funding agreements for each of these pipeline schools will be signed once the school has completed the relevant stages of the conversion process. I am unable to give an expected opening date for conversion, as the pace is driven by the individual schools concerned.
	A full list of schools working towards achieving converter Academy status is available on the DFE website at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/p/publication%20list%20for%20converter% 20academies%20july%202012.xls
	An additional list shows sponsored Academies currently progressing:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/xls/p/publication%20list%20for%20sponsored%20 academies%20july%202012.xls

Food Technology: Primary Education

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the inclusion of food technology in the national curriculum for all primary schools.

Elizabeth Truss: Food technology is currently part of design and technology which is a compulsory national curriculum subject in primary schools. On 11 June 2012, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), announced that design and technology would continue to be compulsory in the new national curriculum for primary schools. We are currently considering what the National Curriculum programme of study for design and technology should cover and will make an announcement in due course.

Heads of Communications

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what selection criteria were used by his Department to recruit its last three Heads of Communications.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department for Education is committed to ensuring that individuals are appointed to the civil service through fair and open competition on the basis of merit.
	As a senior civil service position, candidates applying for the last three director of communications posts would have been required to show that they have the appropriate level of professional skills and breadth of experience.
	Candidates would have been measured against the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) competence framework which is a common set of skill requirements across Government which include behavioural indicators setting out the skills that staff in the civil service need to do their job well, at all grades, no matter where they work.

Money Advice Service

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from the Money Advice Service on financial education in schools as part of his review of the national curriculum.

Elizabeth Truss: The Money Advice Service did not respond to the National Curriculum Review's call for evidence.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the level of the pupil premium.

David Laws: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. Pupil premium funding is provided to schools which have on roll pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (the derivation premium); children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months (the looked after child premium); and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces (the service child premium).
	The pupil premium is additional funding and was worth £625 million in financial year 2011-12 and £1.25 billion in financial year 2012-13. The deprivation and looked after children premium per pupil amount for financial year 2011-12 was £488, and has risen to £600 for financial year 2012-13. The service children premium per pupil amount for 2011-12 was £200 and rose to £250 in financial year 2012-13. The pupil premium is set to continue to rise each year until 2014-15 when it will be worth £2.5 billion.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much pupil premium funding his Department has allocated to Gloucester since its introduction.

David Laws: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. Pupil premium funding is provided to schools which have on roll pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (the derivation premium); children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months (the looked after child premium); and children whose parents are serving in the armed forces (the service child premium).
	In the 2011-12 financial year 2,870 pupils in Gloucester constituency were eligible for either the deprivation premium or service child premium, attracting £1.363 million. It is not possible to identify, at constituency level, the number of pupils' recorded as being in care or recorded in the alternative provision census.
	The number of pupils eligible for the pupil premium in 2012-13 has not yet been confirmed but the provisional estimate is that 3,960 pupils will be eligible for the deprivation premium or the service child premium in Gloucester, attracting £2.329 million. This estimate is based on January 2011 school census data and data for pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) since 2006. It reflects the decision to extend eligibility for the deprivation premium to those eligible for FSM in the previous six years.

South Sudan

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports she has received on the first official publication from the National Audit Chamber in South Sudan; and what steps her Department is taking to assist the development of effective, democratic and transparent governance mechanisms in South Sudan.

Justine Greening: We welcome the audit reports on the financial statements of the Government of Southern Sudan for the financial years 2007 and 2008 which were produced by the South Sudan Audit Chamber in July. We are very concerned by the Audit Chamber's findings, including on weak budget execution, lack of complete payroll data, and poor data on oil revenues.
	We are working with the Government of South Sudan to ensure that tackling corruption remains high on their agenda. The UK's support through the World Bank managed the Multi-donor Trust Fund (MDTF) and through the Joint Donor Office in Juba has enabled the National Audit Chamber to fulfil its functions more effectively, including the production of annual reports. We are providing support to help strengthen budget systems, and we are initiating a bilateral programme of accountability support to the South Sudan Anti-Corruption Commission. In addition the UK, together with its Troika partners, US and Norway, and the European Union, hold a regular high level dialogue with a group of senior Ministers of the Government of South Sudan, with a strong focus on tackling corruption. Finally, UK officials regularly raise corruption concerns in meetings with Government Ministers.

Older People: Swindon

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what percentage the over 85 population in Swindon is forecast to rise over the next 20 years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office by what percentage the over 85 population in Swindon is forecast to rise over the next 20 years.
	Estimates of future population are available as population projections. The most recent subnational population projections are based on mid-year population estimates for 2010.
	Subnational population projections are not forecasts and do not attempt to predict the impact of future government policies, changing economic circumstances or the capacity of an area to accommodate a change in population. They provide an indication of the future size and age structure of the population if recent demographic trends continued.
	Between mid-2010 and mid-2030, the over 85 population in Swindon is projected to rise from 3,119 to 7,184, an increase of 130 percent. Looking at this as a proportion of the total population, the over 85 population is projected to increase by approximately one percent from 1.6 to 2.9 percent. The over 85 age group has been defined as 86 and over.

Apprentices: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were offered in the (a) public sector and (b) private sector to young people in each London local authority in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: We do not measure the number of apprenticeship starts in the public and private sector.
	Information on the number of Apprenticeship starts by Sector Subject Area is published in a supplementary table to a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 28 June 2012:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_supplementary_ tables/

Business: Regulation

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made in cutting red tape for small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) England and (b) Northamptonshire since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 7 September 2012
	This Government has taken significant and concrete steps to reduce the burden of regulation on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which will benefit SMEs in England including Northamptonshire:
	We have recently announced that from April 2013 hundreds of thousands of businesses will be exempted from burdensome, regular health and safety inspections.
	In addition, the Government will introduce legislation next month to ensure that businesses will only be held liable for civil damages in health and safety cases if they can be shown to have acted negligently. This will end the current situation where businesses can automatically be liable for damages even if they were not negligent.
	The Government is also continuing to take radical action on red to boost growth and jobs in the economy. The Government is systematically examining some 6,500 substantive regulations that it inherited, through the Red Tape Challenge process. The Government has committed to abolish or substantially reduce at least 3,000 of these regulations. We will complete the identification of the regulations to be scrapped or overhauled by December 2013.
	These commitments constitute the most ambitious action ever proposed by a modern British Government to slash the burden of regulation and set businesses free. They will save British companies millions of pounds in wasted time and money, and help spur economic growth and innovation across the UK.
	These new commitments are part of our relentless drive to tackle the burden which regulation places on smaller businesses. We have already delivered significant savings:
	We have saved SMEs £388 million by not extending the right to request time to train to businesses with fewer than 250 employees;
	We have exempted smaller retailers for three years from the display ban on tobacco, which applies to supermarkets and very large stores from April 2012;
	We are phasing implementation of pensions auto enrolment, so that small businesses will not need to comply until June 2015;
	We have achieved agreement in Brussels to exempting up to 1.4 million UK small businesses from certain EU accounting rules.
	More widely, we have introduced a three year moratorium on new domestic regulation for micro-businesses and start-ups from 1 April 2011 in order to support growth and establish a period of increased regulatory stability for the smallest businesses.
	We have also introduced the One-in, One-out rule, so that if a Department wants to introduce a new regulation which generates costs for business, they must first identify a corresponding cut in regulation elsewhere with the same value.
	Finally, Focus on Enforcement, a new campaign and call for evidence launched at Budget this year, is undertaking a series of sector-based regulatory reviews looking at how enforcement of legislation is experienced from the point of view of business. Each review is identifying where inappropriate or excessive enforcement of regulation by national and local regulators is holding business back and seeking to identify good practice that could be replicated elsewhere.

Business: Regulation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what consideration he has given to the potential contribution of the submissions to the Red Tape Challenge to the Government's objective to cut red tape.

Michael Fallon: All comments and submissions received as part of the Red Tape Challenge have been thoroughly analysed by Departments and fed into their proposals for cutting red tape.
	In many cases, comments and submissions to the Red Tape Challenge have directly led to decisions being taken. For example, comments during the retail theme highlighted issues with overlapping and costly consumer legislation. As a consequence we have committed to scrap or improve some 12 pieces of consumer legislation. Submissions to the hospitality, food and drink theme raised problems with regulations governing entertainment licensing at small venues. The Government has consulted on removing parts of the Licensing Act 2003 to solve these problems. In response to concerns raised through the employment related law theme we are introducing major reforms to employment tribunals.
	Further examples can be found on the Red Tape Challenge website at:
	http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

EU Internal Trade

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the primary (a) imported and (b) exported goods and services are between the UK and Europe.

Michael Fallon: The primary goods imported and exported are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Top 10 goods imports to UK from EU by commodity (SITC) 2011 (£ billion) Percentage of total 
			 781 Motor cars and other m/vehicles principally designed for transport of persons (o/t public-transport vehicles) 19 9 
			 334 Oils obtained from petroleum or bituminous minerals 9 4 
			 784 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of group 722, 781, 782 and 783 8 4 
			 542 Medicaments (including veterinary medicaments) 8 4 
			 764 Telecommunications equipment 6 3 
			 752 Computers 4 2 
			 641 Paper and paperboard 4 2 
			 713 Internal combustion piston engines, and parts thereof, nes 3 1 
			 112 Alcoholic beverages 3 1 
			 782 Motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purposes motor vehicles 3 1 
			  Top 10 66 32 
			  Other 138 68 
		
	
	
		
			  Top 10 goods exports from UK to EU by commodity (SITC) 2011 (£ billion) Percentage of total 
			 333 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude 14 9 
			 334 Oils obtained from petroleum or bituminous minerals 12 7 
			 781 Motor cars and other m/vehicles principally designed for transport of persons 9 6 
			 542 Medicaments (including veterinary medicaments) 8 5 
			 792 Aircraft and associated equipment; spacecraft (including satellites) and spacecraft launch vehicles; parts thereof 4 3 
			 541 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products, other than medicaments of group 542 4 3 
			 713 Internal combustion piston engines, and parts thereof, nes 3 2 
			 764 Telecommunications equipment, nes 3 2 
			 343 Natural gas, whether or not liquified 3 2 
			 784 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of group 722, 781, 782 and 783 3 2 
			  Top 10 63 40 
			  Other 95 60 
			 Source: HMRC 
		
	
	The UK imported over £200 billion of goods from the EU in 2011. £19 billion of imports were motor cars (9% of total imports by value from the EU).
	The UK exported over £150 billion of goods to the EU. Petroleum oils (SITC 333 and 334) together accounted for 16% of these exports by value. Other primary goods exports included motor cars, aircraft, and pharmaceuticals, as shown in the table.
	In 2011, the UK imported £59 billion of services from the EU, of which £18 billion was travel services, £14 billion was “other business services”, and £11 billion was transportation services.
	In 2011, the UK exported £75 billion of services to the EU, of which £21 billion was financial services, £20 billion was “other business services”, £10 billion was travel services, and £9 billion was transportation services.
	Goods data is from HM Revenue and Customs and published on their website:
	www.uktradeinfo.com
	Goods are allocated a commodity code based on the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC). Services data are collated from various statistical surveys, and published by the Office for National Statistics in the UK Balance of Payments (Pink Book) also available online.

India

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the government of India on allowing multi-brand retailers access to markets in India.

Michael Fallon: The Government wants to see liberalisation in India across a range of economic sectors, including multi-brand retail. We are continuing to press the EU and Government of India to deliver on this. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has raised this with his Indian counterpart Anand Sharma on several occasions. The British high commissioner to India and his officials also regularly discuss these issues with Government of India counterparts.

India

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects the EU and India to sign a free trade agreement.

Michael Fallon: The most recent statement issued by Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Commerce Minister Anand Sharmaon 26 June 2012 was optimistic about progress towards conclusion of negotiations this year. The Government is keen to see an agreement concluded as soon as possible, but there are still a number of issues to be resolved on the liberalisation of both goods and services.

Overseas Trade

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of its February 2011 White Paper on Trade and Investment for Growth;
	(2)  what progress his Department has made in working with domestic departments to promote the British economy overseas.

Michael Fallon: The actions called for in the 'Trade and Investment for Growth' White Paper cut across Government Departments and are being implemented under the oversight of the Economic Affairs cabinet sub-committee on Trade and Investment—the EA(TI)—which is chaired by the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint. We have laid much of the necessary groundwork and made some real progress. The majority of White Paper commitments are on track to deliver against the agreed timeframes and milestones. However, we are taking a long term approach and our strategy cannot be secured in 18 months. A report detailing progress and achievements in the first year following the launch of the White Paper can be downloaded from the BIS website at:
	www.bis.gov.uk/policies/trade-policy-unit/trade-white-paper/white-paper-one-year-on
	The EA(TI) was created by the Prime Minister to co-ordinate the implementation of the policies set out in the White Paper. With wide membership at Minister of State level, covering all Departments with a key interest in trade and investment, the Committee considers the significant issues affecting the promotion of trade and investment with the UK and co-ordinates action across Whitehall.

Overseas Trade: BRIC Countries

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the level of growth in UK exports to (a) Russia and (b) Brazil in 2012.

Michael Fallon: In Q1 2012, UK exports of goods and services totalled £2,149 million to Russia and £1,034 million to Brazil. There was an increase of £396 million (23%) to Russia and £119 million (13%) to Brazil compared to Q1 2011. Estimates for Q2 2012 will be released by the Office for National Statistics in late September 2012.
	Data for trade in goods only, collected by HM Revenue and Customs, shows total goods exports of £2,877 million to Russia and £1,259 million to Brazil, up £753 million (35%) and £240 million (24%) respectively on the first half of 2011. Each month saw growth in goods exports by value (compared to the same month in 2011).

Pharmacy: Opening Hours

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what his policy is on allowing supermarket pharmacies to extend their opening hours;
	(2)  whether his Department has commissioned research into the potential effect on local pharmacies of allowing supermarket pharmacies to increase their opening hours.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned no such research. General Pharmacy regulation is a matter for the Department of Health.

Post Offices: Closures

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the potential number of post office closures that will occur as a consequence of the abolition of core-tier fixed payments to post offices.

Jo Swinson: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The Government has made a clear commitment that there will be no programme of post office closures. This is supported by £1.34 billion funding to maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches, and also to modernise around 6,000 post offices by 2015 in a process known as Network Transformation. This is a completely voluntary process, no sub-postmaster is being forced to change their contract and for those who do not opt to change, we are not abolishing the Core Tier Payment. It should be noted that Post Office Ltd has reported an encouraging level of interest in converting to the new operating models under Network Transformation from existing sub-postmasters.

Post Offices: Credit Cards

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills for what reasons post offices are not able to accept credit card payment for car tax renewals.

Jo Swinson: holding answer 5 September 2012
	Post Office Ltd is responsible for operational matters pertaining to the Post Office network, which includes the information requested. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the chief executive of Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regulation

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has made an estimate of the (a) cost and (b) time required for a business to comply with each piece of regulation for which it is responsible.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills follows the one-in-one-out methodology in order to calculate the cost and time required for a business to comply with new domestic regulation. The Government publishes the Statement of New Regulation twice a year which gives an overview of the net cost to business from new domestic regulation. Individual Impact Assessments are also published on the Impact Assessment Library and can be accessed via the website.

India

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will offer support or expertise to the Indian Government to adopt an anti-trafficking law in respect of the treatment of Dalits in that country.

Hugo Swire: Human trafficking is prohibited under article 23 of the constitution of India. We support co-operation between UK and Indian enforcement agencies in a range of areas and will continue to engage the Indian authorities on measures to combat human trafficking and illegal immigration, including offering UK experience and expertise where appropriate.
	Our high commission in New Delhi is involved in a pilot project to improve the exchange of information between agencies dealing with the prevention of trafficking and the rehabilitation of victims of commercial sexual exploitation in India. Our analysis is that trafficking is a particular risk for India's poorest and socially excluded groups, including Dalits. The UK Government ensures that all British development programmes are designed to benefit particularly the poorest and most excluded. These programmes help to address some of the 'push factors' for trafficking such as poverty, lack of opportunity and illiteracy, and are also a means of raising awareness of the threat of trafficking in rural districts. Examples include the Indian Government's ‘Education for All' scheme, which has helped bring the proportion of Dalit children in school into line with their proportion in the general population; and our civil society programmes, which support excluded groups in India's 90 poorest districts to understand their rights and access government services.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the written ministerial statement of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 27WS, on pre-Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council (23 to 24 May 2011), if he will make representations to Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo that Abdullah Senussi should face a transparent trial at the International Criminal Court.

Alistair Burt: On 5 September, Gaddafi’s former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi was extradited to Libya by the Mauritanian authorities. We understand that al-Senussi is formally in the custody of the Libyan authorities. The Libyan Prime Minister has stated publicly that al-Senussi will receive:
	“a fair trial during which the international standards of dignity will be respected”.
	In light of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) outstanding arrest warrant for al-Senussi the Libyan authorities and the ICC will need to engage on the matter of where al-Senussi should be tried. The ICC is an independent judicial institution and it would be inappropriate to seek to make representations to the new Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda. The British Government will continue to encourage co-operation between the ICC and the Libyan authorities and to ensure that any future legal process is conducted according to international standards.

Libya

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the written ministerial statement of 19 May 2011, Official Report, column 27WS, on pre-Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council (23 to 24 May 2011), if he will make representations to the Libyan Foreign Ministry that Abdullah Senussi should face a transparent trial at the International Criminal Court.

Alistair Burt: On 5 September, Gaddafi’s former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi was extradited to Libya by the Mauritanian authorities. We understand that al-Senussi is formally in the custody of the Libyan authorities. The Libyan Prime Minister has stated publicly that al-Senussi will receive:
	“a fair trial during which the international standards of dignity will be respected”.
	In light of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) outstanding arrest warrant for al-Senussi, the Libyan authorities and the ICC will need to engage on the matter of where al-Senussi should be tried. The British Government will continue to encourage co-operation between the ICC and the Libyan authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and to ensure that any future legal process is conducted according to international standards.

Middle East

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to support and enhance religious freedom in the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: We deplore all discrimination against religious minorities and constraints on their freedom to practise their faiths.
	We regularly stress to the Governments of countries undergoing political transitions that respect for human rights and dignity are universal rights which must underline all political systems, without exception, benefiting all. In Egypt, we are following closely President Mursi's actions to fulfil the commitment he made in his presidential acceptance speech to respect human rights and tackle discrimination, including against minorities. In Syria, we continue to urge opposition groups to work together to build a shared future which has at its heart an inclusive and representative political system adhering to international human rights standards and guaranteeing minority rights.
	We do not limit our response to words. In Iraq we have funded a grassroots religious reconciliation initiative involving a series of meetings to encourage dialogue between local religious leaders from across the sectarian divides. In Egypt, we have been supportive of interfaith dialogue and initiatives such as Beit El-Eila. We also use our close relationship with Al-Azhar University to promote intra-faith dialogue.
	We are confident that more open and inclusive societies are the surest route to stability and security, including for minorities. The UK is supporting this process through our Arab Partnership, by promoting the strengthening of institutions crucial for more open and accountable societies, including the judiciary, a free press and a vibrant civil society.

Middle East

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the report, Children in Military Custody, what recent progress the Government has made in persuading the government of Israel to adopt the recommendations of the report, on breaches of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Fourth Geneva Convention by that country in relation to Palestinian children under Israeli military law.

Alistair Burt: The British ambassador to Israel has discussed the report's findings with the Israeli Attorney-General and Deputy Attorney-General and with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will continue dialogue with the Israeli authorities on this issue.
	We are also in contact with the report's authors about other possible follow up to the report.

UKTI and Scottish Development International

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has paid to (a) UK Trade and Investment and (b) Scottish Development International in each of the last five years.

David Lidington: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is a joint non-ministerial Government Department of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The FCO's funding of UKTI is published annually in UKTI's annual report and accounts, memorandum notes, statement of comprehensive net expenditure, available at:
	http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/aboutukti/ourperformance/officialreports/departmentalreportresourceaccounts.html
	The most recent accounts were laid before the House on 28 June 2012 [HC47].
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not pay any money directly to Scottish Development International. The organisation's funding is provided via the UK Government's annual block grant to the Scottish Government.